The Associated Press wants to be prepared for Britney Spears‘ seemingly imminent death. From Us:

â€œWe are not wishing it, but if Britney passed away, itâ€™s easily one of the biggest stories in a long time,â€ AP entertainment editor Jesse Washington tells Us.

â€œI think one would agree that Britney seems at risk right now,â€ Washington adds. â€œOf course, we would never wish any type of misfortune on anybody and hope that we would never have to use it until 50 years from nowâ€¦but if something were to happen, we would have to be prepared.â€

We were actually just talking about how we should have a Spears obit on deck. Isn’t that sad?

news services have obits on all newsmakers and periodically update them so they can file before the corpse gets cold. so, yes, they have an obit on her on file. no, it doesn’t mean they’re anticipating her death (but they may be updating it more avidly than, say, beck).

Jan 17, 2008 at 5:36 pm · @Reply ·

Myron Pitts

I work in journalism and it is NOT customary for media outlets to have ready obits for public figures as young as Britney. It is true that newspapers, etc. keep ready obits for aging and very sick public officials, so reporters won’t have to pull together a bunch of material on deadline.

But we should take Washington at his word, that a file was started on Britney (one month ago, according to the link at Us) because she is an “at-risk” celebrity, not just because she is a celebrity. It would be unmanageable, even for the AP, to keep ready obits for all major public figures.

Jan 17, 2008 at 6:03 pm · @Reply ·

Lamb Cannon

This would be tragically sad; except, the world would be a better place without: (a) Shittany Rears; (b) her talentless husband; (c) her trailer trash children, and especially (d) her alleged “fan base”, including whoever at this website thinks anyone with an IQ over 50 gives a shit (except for making more money for the execrable, detestable “Dr. Phil”)

Jan 17, 2008 at 7:24 pm · @Reply ·

hells kitchen guy

I should have said they keep obits (especially someone with as many resources as AP) on anyone remotely at risk. I’m sure there’s one on Paris & Lindsay too.